IRS Call SCAM

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning to its residents about scam artists reportedly posing as IRS employees.

The scam begins with a resident receiving a call from someone reporting to be an agent of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The caller informs the resident they owe money to the IRS and demands it be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest or suspension of a business or driver’s license. Often these calls will be “spoofed” so that the victim’s caller ID supports the fake claims.

Sheriff Timothy S. Whitcomb would like to remind everyone to be wary of phone calls that use scare tactics, as they often are scam artists attempting to gain personal information to defraud their victims.

If such a call is received, residents are encouraged not to give out any personal information and to call their local police agency.

Learn more at http://www.cattco.org/news/20155039-warning-irs-call-scam.